A German news agency says the Taliban has warned the South Korean government not to send soldiers to Afghanistan.

The Taliban said in a statement e-mailed to the DPA news agency Wednesday that Seoul should prepare for “bad consequences” if it breaks what the Taliban claims was Seoul’s promise not to deploy troops.

The statement noted that the Taliban had released 19 South Korean hostages in August 2007 after Seoul promised to pull out its soldiers from Afghanistan and vowed never to try to send forces there again in the future.

In Seoul, the Foreign Ministry said such a statement by the Taliban was expected. The ministry stressed that the mission of the Korean troops that will be sent to Afghanistan will be confined to providing protection to members of South Korea’s Provincial Reconstruction Team.

The ministry said the government will do its best to ensure the safety of Korean residents and companies in Afghanistan in the wake of the Taliban’s recent statement.

The Taliban killed two South Korean hostages in 2007 before releasing 19 after 42 days of captivity.